Re: [ST] New rider to the list

[" Kevin Dicks" <rawsonboy@xxxxxxxxx>]

Another short-term solution is to bungee the front brake lever on overnight
- this seems to also help BUT it is only temporary.  As Dan says, the best
way to solve this problem is to clean the brake pistons as he outlines
below.  I do mine every year as part of my initial clean up and such after
getting it out of storage.  Be careful when you ride it afterwards...the
brakes will be pretty good so don't be yanking on them.

Cheers,

Kevin
Another ex-pat from over the pond

-----Original Message-----
From: st-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:st-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Dan Wetherington
Sent: Tuesday, June 12, 2007 12:16 PM
To: ST@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: [ST] New rider to the list


Mark Needham wrote:
> Good morning all.
>
> Mark here. Rider in Washington State but transplanted from across the 
> pond. I used to own a CBR600F3 (Betsy) but gave her up as my knee was 
> giving a little trouble after riding her for a few miles.
>
> Up comes this beautiful Sprint ST (1999 model). I knew as soon as I 
> saw the ad she was going to be mine (Gloria). 18k miles, new sprockets 
> and chain, heated grips, full luggage, carbon exhaust, and alarm 
> system (which I am beginning to detest a little). I never remember to 
> disable the motion detector!!!!!
>
> If I may be so bold and ask, Does the front brake lever always travel 
> a fair way before the brakes apply? I was a control rider for a street 
> skills day and found that the lever was traveling further and further 
> as the day progressed. Is this Triumph's wear indicator?
>
> Mark
>   
Mark,
Welcome to the list!  It sounds like you have the caliper piston buildup 
problem.  Check the archives on www.triumphnet.com for more info, but 
here's the skinny:

Brake dust builds up on the sides of the caliper pistons, and this gunk 
prevents good piston travel.  If you pull the front calipers, remove the 
pads, and slip a block of wood in between the pistons, you can move them 
out to the point where you can clean the sides (use brake cleaner and an 
old toothbrush).  Compress the pistons back in and you should be good to 
go! 
Of course it could be a couple of other things, like old brake fluid or 
air in the brake lines, but the above issue is probably your culprit.

Good luck and welcome!

Dan
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